Reel



April 25, 1939. 'H. c. PORTER 2,155,769

- REEL Filed Aug. 4, 1936 4 Sheets Sheet l H. c. PORTER REEL Filed Aug. 4; 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 1 a 9 b 6 6 3 6 5 2 z 8 2 2 2 A+8 1m 2 m r, w 3 W 2 m April 25, 1939. H. c. PORTER REEL Filed Aug. 4, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 kedu 5816.

April 25, 1939. I H. PORTER REEL 4 SHeets-Sheet 4 Filed Aug. 4, 1956 Patented Apr. 25, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE node Steel Strapping Company, Chicago, 111., a

corporation of Delaware Application August 4, 1936, Serial No. 94,199

3 Claims.

My invention relates to reels.

It will be illustrated and described as embodied in a reel particularly adapted for the reception and support of coils of metallic package-binder 6 strap and for the delivery, as required, of the strap from a supported'coil thereof.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide an improved reel.

Another object is to provide an improved reel of the portable type.

Another object is to provide a reel which will readily accommodate a coil of strap, and will securely hold and support the same.

A further object is to provide a reel which may be readily assembled and taken apart and which is light, rugged, simple, convenient and effective.

Other objects and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a perspective of a complete reel incorporating the preferred embodiment of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective of the supporting stand 2d of the reel, the strap-coil holding drum and the combined tool holding shelf and supply receptacle having been removed;

Fig. 3 is a small scale side elevation illustrating the preferred method of picking up the coil 30 loaded detachable drum of the reel with the stand thereof;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged vertical section through the upper part of the handle of the stand and of the removable tool shelf and supply receptacle in place thereon;

Fig. 5 is an end elevation and partial section of the top of the upper end of the stand handle and of the tool shelf and supply receptacle in place thereon;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged view of one of the strapdrum supporting brackets of the stand, with the cap thereof removed so as clearly to show how the bracket serves also as an assembly clamp for uniting the legs and handle into a complete stand framework;

Fig. 7 is a section on the line l'| of Fig. 6 with the cap of the bracket in place;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged section on the line 88 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged sectional view of the clip for holding the free end of the strap-coil in a readily accessible position adjacent the upper end of the reel handle;

Fig. 10 is an enlarged vertical section through the strap-drum of the reel;

Fig. 11 is a perspective, on a reduced scale, of the two separable complementary sections constituting the strap-drum;

Fig. 12 is an enlarged inside end view of one of the drum-section hubs;

Fig. 13 is a side elevation of one of the drum sections showing the normal location of the coil and strap-feed control ring;

Fig. 14 is a top view of the strap-coil drum with the control ring in place;

Fig. 15 is a perspective of the two sections of the coil and strap-feed control ring,v showing the same disconnected or unjointed;

Fig. 16 is an enlarged top plan, partly in section, of the guide through which the strap feeds from a strap-coil supported by the reel drum; and

Fig. 17 is an enlarged side elevation of the control ring strap guide.

Although the drawings disclose a reel having 20 (l) a coil holding drum possessing special characteristics, (2) a coil-unwinding control of unique capabilities, (3) a strap holding and guiding clip of marked utility and (4) a handy tool shelf and supply receptacle, these features are covered in divisional applications as follows: the Drum, Serial No. 174,526, filed November 15, 1937; the Unwinding-control, Serial No. 174,527, filed November 15, 1937; the Clip, Serial No. 175,793, filed November 22, 1937; and the Tool shelf and receptacle, Serial No. 175,792, filed November 22, 1937.

Referring first to Fig. 1, the complete reel, in its preferred form, includes a wheeled tubular stand A, a two sectioned strap-coil drum B, detachably supported by the stand, and a combined tool-holding shelf and supply receptacle C, which, when desired, may be removed from the stand.

The reel stand comprises a pair of supporting legs 5 and 6 and a handle 1, each of which as shown most clearly in Fig. 2, is of generally U-shape, and a pair of brackets 8, which serve not only as the immediate coil-drum supports, but also as clamps for joining the two legs and handle into a unitary assembly. Preferably the legs and handle are each formed from a single piece of cylindrical steel tubing of the desired size and strength. The lower or closed end of leg 5 has both of its branches perforated just above the cross piece to receive a shaft 9, which at opposite ends carries wheels l0 whereby the reel is rendered readily portable even when carrying heavy coils of strap. The upper closed end of handle I is preferably bent to assume an approximately horizontal position when the reel is standing normally upon its two legs. This shape or disposition of the upper end of the handle enables the handle to be made long enough to insure that an operator, grasping it upon or near the cross piece I, will be able easily and naturally to pivot the stand about wheels ID until leg 6 is raised slightly above the floor, and then to walk along rolling the reel upon its wheels (either by pulling or by pushing it) at about arms length and without interference with his feet or legs. It also provides ready accommodation for and a horizontal disposition at a convenient height of a tool shelf and supply receptacle such as hereinafter described. Of course, for lighter loads or if such ready portability is not desired, the wheels and axle may be omitted.

The assembly brackets 8, which are alike, each includes a pair of complementary somewhat T- shaped cast iron or steel clamps I5 and I6 between which the free ends of one branch of each leg and of the handle are tightly and rigidly gripped in the relation shown most clearly in Fig. 6. The complementary clamps of each bracket may be tightly drawn and held together by a pair of cap screws I! which pass freely through holes in clamp l5 and screw into threaded holes in clamp IS. The inner clamp l6 of each bracket is formed with an upwardly directed hook I 8, the inner surface I9 of which faces and is substantially parallel to a flat faced drum-axle guide lug 20, which also forms a part of clamp Hi. The outer clamp or cap l5 of each bracket has a stop lug 2| formed thereon for the purpose of preventing the rotation of the coil-drum axle as will be hereinafter explained.

The two clamps constituting an assembly and drum supporting bracket are each provided with three substantially semi-cylindrical confronting recesses which, when the clamps are assembled, unite to form three generally cylindrical sockets for receiving the inner ends of one branch of each leg and of the handle as shown most clearly in Figs. 6 and '7. The bottoms of the two aligned sockets of each bracket (1. e. the sockets for receiving the ends of one branch of the wheeled leg and handle) are provided by webs 22 and 23 formed respectively in and as an integral part of clamps 5 and I6; while the bottom of the recess for the end of the other or angularly related leg 6 is provided by two complementary webs 24, one formed in and as an integral part of each clamp. These webs form stops or abutments for limiting the extent of the insertion of the ends of the legs and handle into the bracket and to assist in insuring proper assembly and rigidity. The wall of each of the three recesses in clamp I6 is provided with two sets of angularly related straight faced bosses or fillets 25 and 26 formed integral with the clamp and as quadrant chords across the associated semi-circular recess. A set of bosses 25 is located near the outer or open end of each of the three recesses of clamp l6; and a set of bosses 26 is located near the bottom of each of the three recesses of clamp l6. Clamp |5 has one similar set of bosses or fillets 2'! located about midway between bosses 25-26 in the corresponding recesses of clamp I6. These complementary angularly related bosses, rather than the cylindrical walls of the clamp recesses, engage the inserted ends of the legs and handle and afford a wedging selfaligning vise-like grip upon the ends of the legs and handle branches. Furthermore the grip upon each branch end is at three longitudinally spaced regions. Thus there is provided a firm and rigid grip or clamping action between the leg and handle branches and the assembly brackets and a strong and rigid stand frame work is insured.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description and the drawings that the reel stand comprises but five major parts-two legs, a handle and two assembly brackets-each of which is exceedingly simple and yet strong; that it may be readily shipped and stored in disassembled or knock down condition; that it can be easily and quickly assembled; and, whenever desired,

is easily and quickly taken apart.

The coil-drum of the stand comprises two complementary, generally circular, disc-like sheet metal members 3| and 32. Each disc is formed with an annular radially extending outer flange 33 or 34, which constitutes one of the drum heads, and an inwardly and laterally directed annular shoulder 35 or 36 which comprises half of the cylindrical drum-barrel upon which a strap-coil may be directly supported. For a distance radially inward from shoulders 35 and 36, the drum discs are formed with straight parallel webs 31 and 38 which contact each other when the discs are assembled to form a complete drum. In their mid regions the discs are flared outwardly to form the frusto-cone-shaped portions 39 and 40 respectively, and are then again bent parallel to each other and perpendicular to the axis to form the annular attaching flanges 4| and 42. The axial hole through flange 4| accommodates a hubsection 45 and the hole through flange 42 accommodates a hub section 46. Each section of the hub is formed with an outwardly projecting annular flange 41 which overlies and is secured to the companion flange 4| or 42 of the associated drum disc by suitable means such as rivets 4B. The hub sections, which are generally cylindrical and hollow, are provided with aligned bearings for an axle which preferably is in the form of a screw 49 having an integral square head 50 at one end and a longitudinally adjustable Wing nut 52 threaded upon its opposite end. Thus hub section 45 has inwardly directed flanges 53 and 54 and hub section 46 has similar flanges 55 and 56 which flanges are drilled through to provide the aligned axle bearings for screw 49. The forward or inner end of hub sectionv 45 is formed to provide an arcuate hook-like clutch member 69 and section 46 is formed into a similar and cooperative clutch member 6| at its inner end. The relation of these clutch members is such that the two drum discs may be brought quite closely together with the tips of the clutch members overlapping and then, by rotating the discs relative to each other for a partial revolution, the tips of the clutch members interlock and the subsequent wedging action draws the discs very' tightly together, as shown most clearly in Fig. 10, to form a coil supporting drum. By rotating the two drum discs relative to: each other in the opposite direction, the clutch members may be disengaged and the discs separated.

Thus the coil-drum is constructed of two halves or sections which may be separated for the placement of the strap-coil upon the barrel thereof and then reassembled and wedged or locked firmly and tightly together against the outward or axially separating bias of the spring of the frustocone-shaped or dished portions of the discs. Some clearance as shown at 51 and 58 is provided between the ends of each clutch member and the body of the opposite hub section so that,

as will be hereinafter explained, the turning up of wing nut 52 may be utilized to regulate the braking effect upon the rotation of the drum as strap is unwound from the coil therein.

Figs. 13 to l'l'show the details of the strap-coil control spring-ring and its relation to the drum and coil of strap. This ring comprises two separable sections 65 and 68 of spring steel having a width slightly less than the distance between the drum heads and each bent into helical form and of a length normally almost to form a complete circle having a diameter slightly less than that of the barrel of the reel drum, as shown most clearly in Fig. 15. The proximate ends of spring sections 65 and 66 are equipped with cooperating coupling members 6'! and 68 respectively whereby the two spring sections may be readily coupled together end to end and, when occasion requires, easily separated. Coupling member 61 comprises a stirrup 69, one end of which is rigidly attached to the end of spring section 65 in a suitable manner, such as by weld ng. The other end of stirmp 69 is bent outwardly at Ill and then rearwardly or reversely at l! to accommodate the flange 12 of a substantially U-shaped latch bolt 13. A spacer strip it, somewhat shorter than the length of the flange, is located between flange 12 and the stirrup 69 so that when these three members are secured together by rivets 15, or other appropriate means, there is provided a later ally opening rectangular slot or socket l6. Coupling member 68 likewise comprises a stirrup I! having one end attached to the end of spring section 56 and the other-end bent outwardly and rearwardly to accommodate a flange E8 of a latch bolt l9,-which flange is riveted to stirrup I! with a spacer strip therebetween to form a rectangular slot or socket 8! which opens laterally in the opposite direction from the slot 16. With this arrangement, the two control-spring sections may, by relative lateral movement, be separated, as shown in Fig. 15, more readily to enable the ring to be removed from and applied to the drum; but they may be coupled together by interlocking the coupling members sidewise, the end 82 of latch bolt '13 entering slot BI and the end 83 of latch bolt 19 entering slot 16. When the two coupling members are thus joined, the spring sections are coupled end to end, but separated by a gap or guideway 84 through which the free end 85 of a strap coil 86 may be threaded as shown most clearly in Figs. 13 and 17. With the two coupling members united and the control ring in position about the coil of strap, the coupling members lie below the rims of the drum heads and are prevented from accidental separation thereby.

Furthermore, the cooperative action of the rectangular latch bolts 13 and i9 fitting the rectangular sockets l6 and 8| causes the guideway to form a rigid end to end coupling between the control ring sections, giving the control ring the efiect of a single spring substantially surrounding the strap coil.

Thus the strap is fed from the coil in the drum through a gap or guide in the mid-region of the control spring, the two sections of which overlap and completely encircle and bear resiliently inwardly against the outer surface of the coil. The formation of the control spring in two substantially equal-length readily separable sections permits the use of a long control spring-one which may completely surround the coil of strap-and facilitates the proper positioning thereof upon and the easy removal thereof from the coil of strap. 'The feeding of the strap from the coil through a guide at the mid-region of the control spring overcomes the tendency of the strap, when pulled, to raise the control spring out from between the heads of the drum-an objectionable tendency when the strap is fed out from under one end of an encircling control spring. And the easily manipulated latch'coupling between the two sections, which permits the sections to be readily separated and reunited, facilitates the placement of the control spring between the drum heads and about a coil of strap supported upon the barrel thereof. The effect of gradual curves provided by the outwardly sloping portions of the stirrups 69 and IT permits the strap to leave the coil and lead out through the control ring guideway without sharp bends therein.

As strap is needed, it is drawn from. the drum by a pull on its free end, the drum and coil rotating to allow the strap to unwind. The friction of the control spring urges it to rotate with the coil and drum but, because it cannot pass the strap threaded through its central guideway, it is forced to remain relatively stationary as long as the unwound strap is held taut by the operator. Thus the coil and drum rotate inside of and relative to the control spring with a friction which, although usually relatively light, may be varied by changing the overlap of the sections of the control spring. For the lighter braking effects the control spring sections are assembled as shown in Fig. 13, with the inner or free end of section 66 inside of the other section (i. e., against the strap coil) so that the pull on the strap end and the rotation of the coil, as shown by the arrows, is against the inner tip of one of the control spring sections causing that section to tend to unwind or loosen its grip upon the surface of the coil. For a heavier braking effect, the control spring sections are assembled reversely (e. g., with the inner or free end of section 65 against the strap coil) so that the friction of the rotation tends to wind the inner of the two sections more tightly about and upon the surface of the coil. This braking effect provides two variations of what ordinarily will be a relatively light back tension,a desirable factor to assist in insuring that straps of different characteristics can be drawn reasonably straight and taut from a supply coil thereof.

As soon as movement of the free strap ceases, the momentum of the coil and drum is effectively braked by that same action. All strap is held clamped flatwise on the coil under the control spring at all times, no loose or slack laps. being free to pull away from the coil or to get out of the channel between the flanges of the drum, or to twist and turn up on edge and cause tangles.

The tendency of a relatively heavy coil and drum to continue to rotate and overrun and thereby continue to deliver strap after the operator has ceased to pull is also reduced by the grip of the control spring preventing any substantial increase in the diameter of any lap or convolution in the coil and resultant loosening from such overrunning; thereby forcing the momentum to be rapidly overcome by the friction of loosening and slipping many laps or convolutions of strap, each of small amount, because the only possible escape for additional length of strap by overrun is that slight increase in diameter allowed by pressure against the control spring.

On long pulls when considerable lengths of strap are taken very rapidly from the drum, it

is often desirable, when the required footage has been drawn ofl, to slack back on the free end, which removes the impedance of the taut strap against rotation of the control spring with the drum. The spring then clamps and rotates with the coil and drum winding the slack strap reversely outside of the control spring until a slight pull on the free end has stopped the overrun (usually in less than one revolution of the drum) whence that small amount of wound-back strap can be drawn quickly and freely at slow speed.

In the event more strap than required is drawn from the drum, the control ring and its guideway form an easy means of insuring a proper re-wind upon the coil of the excess. Thus by holding the control ring stationary and rotating the drum in the reverse direction, the excess strap will be tightly, evenly and flatly re-wound upon the drum.

A detachable shelf and receptacle or bin for holding tools and any other small equipment and supplies, such as joint forming sleeves or seals, used in the binding of packages may be conveniently located at and carried by the upper end of the stand handle. The details of such a shelf and receptacle are shown in Figs. 1, 4 and 5.

The tool shelf comprises a rectangular metal frame, three sides 90, 9| and 92 of which are formed from a single angle iron having one flange horizontally disposed and the other flange upstanding. The fourth and front side is formed of a metal bar 93 which bridges between the forward ends of the side members 99 and 92 and is secured thereto by rivets 94 or other suitable means. The horizontally disposed flanges of the side members 99, SI and 92 support a platform 95, preferably made of wood and anchored in place by a number of screws 96 which thread into tapped holes in the horizontal flanges of the side members. The vertical flanges of the side members bordering three sides of the platform and extending slightly above the top surface thereof, while the fourth or front side is left unguarded, serve to facilitate the placing and removal of tools, etc., upon and from the reel shelf and to prevent them from being accidentally displaced when the reel is being moved about.

The shelf is detachably retained upon the horizontally disposed portion of handle I by a pair of angle irons 91 and 98 and a pair of cross rods 99 and I09. The angle irons 91 and 98 have their horizontal flanges secured to the horizontal flanges of side frame members 99 and 92 respectively and rods 99 and I99 have their opposite ends seated in holes through the downwardly extending flanges of angle irons 9'! and 98. The vertical spacing between the horizontal flanges of angle irons 91 and 98 and the cross rods therebelow is slightly greater than the diameter of the tubing from which handle I is formed. Thus the shelf may be positioned by sliding it lengthwise upon the handle with the tubing of the handle in the guideway formed by rods 99 and I09 and the horizontal flanges of angle irons 91 and 98. The shelf may be readily detached from the handle by sliding it in the opposite direction. The mid portions of cross rods 99 and I90 are depressed or offset slightly downwardly, as shown most clearly in Fig. 5, to provide clearance for a strap holding clip to be presently described. These cross rodspar ticularly the rear one nearest the coil drum.

perform an additional function in that as the strap is pulled thereover while withdrawing strap from the coil, the cross rods bend or tend to bend the strap in a direction reverse to that imparted by the control ring guide. Thus the cross rods straighten the strap as it is fed to the operator. Such a straightening operation is of particular importance with relatively soft thin strap.

The supply receptacle or bin comprises side members I and I06, which are perforated to permit the cross bars 99 and I 00 to pass therethrough, and two end members I01 and I08 appropriately attached to the side members. The side and end members are formed from sheet steel and the side members are so shaped as to give the receptacle, which is suspended from cross rods 99 and I09, a tapering or hopper-bottom shape.

The cross piece ll of the handle supports an automatically adjustable clip for holding the free end of the strap in a position readily accessible to the operator, for assisting in the proper feeding of the strap and for anchoring in a concealed position the loose sharp end of the strap when the reel is not in use. This clip includes a U-shaped stirrup H0, the flanges III and N2 of which are perforated to fit rather loosely the cross piece I l of the handle. A light coil spring H3 has its opposite ends anchored to the stirrup flanges Ill and H2, by rivets or other appropriate means, well above the center of the handle cross piece and bears against the handle cross piece normally to bias the stirrup so that its yoke H4 tends to rest against the handle cross piece. The clip stirrup may, however, because of the loose fit of the handle cross bar through the holes of flanges Ill and H2, be, moved in the opposite direction against the tension of spring H3 so that the free end 85 of the strap from the coil on the drum may be inserted between the handle cross piece and the stirrup yoke H4 and, as the strap is pulled from the coil by the operator, it is resiliently gripped therebetween rather tightly and yet yieldingly to hold the same. However, in the event the strap is removed by a pull which is largely upward, the clip can be moved against its spring tension only to the extent permitted by the holes through the flanges thereof. In this way the clip spring is protected against undue strain and the clip can not be displaced. The clip may be rotated axially of the handle cross bar and moved longitudinally therealong automatically to adjust itself to facilitate the proper feeding of the strap therethrough as it is pulled from the rotatably mounted drum by the operator. When a strapping operation or series of such operations is completed, the free end of the strap projecting beyond the clip may be turned back and inserted between the clip yoke and the run of strap which lies between the yoke and the handle cross bar, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 9, so as to conceal the sharp edges and corners thereof and prevent them from injuring the person or clothes of those who may be working around the reel. The same result may be accomplished by turning the strap end back and inserting it under the run of strap and next to the handle cross bar.

The reel may be loaded with a coil of strap by separating and removing from the drum the two control ring sections 95 and 66 and, with the drum on its side resting on the head of the axle bolt 49, removing the wing nut 52, and rotating one drum section relative to the other in the proper direction to uncouple the clutch members BI] and BI. When the clutch members have been disengaged, the drum discs may be separated and a coil of strap placed upon and about the annular shoulders 35 or 36 of the disc lying on the floor with its clutch member pointing upwardly. After the strap coil is thus positioned, the other disc is placed thereupon, the clutch members 60 and GI are engaged and, by a slight relative rotation of the drum discs in the opposite direction, tightly interlocked. Next the control spring sections are placed about the coil and between drum heads 33 and 34, the free end of the strap is inserted through the control ring strap guide and the two control ring sections are coupled together by aligning latch bolts 13 and 19 with their sockets II and I6 and laterally forcing them together. be mounted upon the stand.

The preferred method of mounting the loaded reel drum upon the stand is to tilt the drum from the horizontal loading position (either before or after the control ring has been positioned. as heretofore described) into a vertical position standing upright upon its heads 33 and 34 and with its axis horizontally. With the drum in this position, the stand may be tilted slightly as shown in Fig. 3 with the bracket hooks l8 extending downwardly and below the level of the drum axle bolt 49. The easily removable tool shelf and supply receptacle permit them to be taken off the stand as a unit before the stand is tilted in the loading operation and consequently the tools and supplies need not be accidentally dropped. The stand is now moved toward the drum until the axle bolt 49 enters the open ends of hooks l8 and then, by tilting the stand in the reverse direction, the bracket hooks pick up the drum axle bolt and, when the stand is further tilted towards its normal position with legs 6 resting on the floor, the drum is raised and revolubly supported by the stand. This method of picking up a loaded drum is facilitated by the tapering guide lugs 20 of the stand bracket, which serve longitudinally to center the axle bolt, and by the bolt head rest or stop 2|, which prevents the axle bolt from turning. The wing nut 52 may now be turned up to insure the proper friction The drum is now loaded and ready tobetween the drum and stand to enable the drum to be turned easily when strap is withdrawn and then to tend to stop the drum and assist in preventing overrunning as soon as the pull on the strap ceases. The freeend of the strap is threaded through the clip between the yoke I 14 thereof and the handle cross bar and the reel is ready for use.

Having thus illustrated and described the nature and preferred embodiment of my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is as follows:

1. A strap reel comprising a stand composed of three tubular sections forming two legs and a handle, a pair of brackets clamping the three tubular members rigidly together, and a hook on each bracket for receiving the opposite ends of a drum axle; and a drum for holding a coil of strap, said drum having an axle projecting beyond opposite sides thereof to be received and carried by the bracket hooks.

2. A strap reel comprising a stand having two supporting legs and an upwardly and laterally extending handle, said legs and handle each being formed of a single piece of metal tubing bent into substantially U-shape, a pair of substantially T-shaped brackets, each bracket consisting of two complementary sections having three confronting recesses which unite to form sockets for one arm of each leg and the handle, means for clamping the bracket sections together to join the legs and handle rigidly together, each bracket including a hook for supporting a strap-drum axle; and a strap-drum having an axle fitting the bracket hooks.

3. A strap reel comprising a stand having two supporting legs and an upwardly extending handle, said legs and handle each being formed of a single piece of metal tubing bent into substantially U-shape, a pair of substantially T- shaped brackets, each bracket consisting of two complementary sections having three confronting recesses which unite to form sockets for one arm of each leg and the handle, means for clamping the bracket sections together to join the legs and handle rigidly together, each bracket including a hook for supporting a strap-drum axle; and a strap-drum having an axle fitting the bracket hooks. HOWARD C. PORTER. 

